Good luck, OP!
I did this in 2012 (left my law firm with only one year of experience under my belt) against all conventional wisdom, and I have NO REGRETS. My only advice when trying to land something is to avoid dealing with recruiters. It was difficult to land interviews as I was leaving my firm. I put in my notice, and started to save and pare back on expenses. I sat home for about six months and thoroughly enjoyed the time with my children. After six months of submitting applications and freelancing for very little money, I was holding three attractive offers. I took the offer that offered the least money and prestige but the most collegial and supportive work environment. I am now one of those people who gets up in the morning excited to go to work, and I'm also much more patient with my children from the reduction in stress.

We were NOT put on this earth to be miserable. Do what makes you happy!

Thanks everyone for your advice, especially PP that has been following my mess of a story. This is my plan: I am going to put my notice in on the 25th no matter what at DH is supportive of that. In the meantime I figure I have nothing to lose and will send out my resume and at least try to interview.

I didn't know that you can file for unemployment if you quit under certain conditions. If I don't manage to land anything in the next two weeks I will try this when I quit - I have plenty of evidence that I have been performing well but unfortunately all of the conversations I have had with my boss have been in person. There are witnesses to her behavior has she has complained about my situation to other department heads and they've come to me about it offering condolences, so to speak. Per the advice on the previous thread I have documented all events with dates. So I guess it can't hurt to try.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - I'm an HR manager and my advice would be not to quit until you have some potential jobs lined up. I know the initial feedback has been great but one of my interests is studying the market - there are a lot more jobs opening up but there are plenty of qualifies candidates. I have had atleast 5 to 6 solid resumes (after weeding out and interviewing) for every open position. I prefer candidates who are working since they are current rather ban those who are out of work. Other Managers I know few the same about hiring employed candidates. Please try and make time before work to explore options if possible.

I hope you are not an HR Manager with offices in DC as considering a candidate's employment status is illegal. http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/district-columbia-first-nation-ban-discrimination-based-unemployment-s

I always considet and have even hired canidates who have been unemployed. I mean this when we have 5 or 6 stellar candidates and need to narrow down. At this point taking into considering that one candidate has current skills and is using those skills everyday is relevant vs somebody who may have to catch up on new and current stuff (e.g in the tech field) becomes relevant.

Again I hope you don't work in DC. If the unemployed candidate is qualified for the job based on your ad, tossing them because they are unemployed IS discrimination. If the person's skills aren't current then they wouldn't meet the minimum qualifications and wouldn't be in your final selection...

Anonymous wrote:I get what you all are saying about finding work first. I just have only 1.5 PTOs left and I've been strongly encouraged not to use them any time soon. I guess it doesn't matter if I get fired since I want to leave anyway but figured maybe it would be better to leave voluntarily than get fired?

Also my upcoming 2.5 week trip overseas has also been an issue during phone screens so I figured I need to wait to find work when I get back. But the thought of having to stay at my current job that long just depresses me to no end.

I didn't want to give too much back story so I could get unmuddled feedback but here's background to my story, I am the OP of this thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/370873.page

Things have just gotten worse, obviously.

Op, if you can afford to quit (meaning that if you can't find a job for several months you can still pay your bills) then quit. In terms of looking for new employment you'll have to come up with a reason that you are comfortable with (e.g. You needed to address a temporary medical condition, your role had significantly changed and you are looking for an opportunity more in line with your career aspirations etc.).

There is clearly a risk with quitting without another job but only you can determine if the risk is worth it.

In terms of unemployment, I work in HR and the bar for cause is very high (e.g. Theft, harassment, job abandonment). If you were to be fired for performance, absent a documented performance improvement plan, you will win your claim. To do this, you must be prepared to state your case and file any appeal needed if your initial claim is denied.

If you quit you may still be eligible for unemployment by claiming constructive discharge. Again, be prepared to advocate for yourself.

OP, I've been a sympathetic responder to you on your thread that you linked to, as well as your thread on another forum. I'm still sympathetic! Since your position isn't high level, I'm wondering if you could contact some temp agencies and ask if they have work? I would do this before you quit, just to see what's available.

Can you financially handle being out of work for six months to a year? If so, I would consider quitting without finding another position with the intention of sharpening my skills while looking for the next position. Do you have any connections you can work, anything - alumni association, friends, softball teammates? Do you do volunteer work?

Regarding you other situation (the problem that has caused you to miss work), my advice is to put that on hold for a couple of months at least until you sort out your job situation. Good luck to you!

I did but it was 10 years ago when the job market was different. I was also single. I quit because I was 25 and a member of my small (3 person) team was a middle aged, bipolar, bully. He snapped one day and lashed out at me . Normally I'm very level headed, but I had seen what this man had done to others before I joined the team. There was no where else in the small company for me to go, so I left. I bartended and did temp work for a while, telling potential employers that I had spent almost all of my short career in one place and was looking for new experiences. Several months later the company had an opening on another team and rehired me. (The middle aged bully had a falling out with the company shortly after that for continuing the same behavior...)

It was a risky move, but at the time it seemed like my only option. The time off and soul searching turned out to be good for me.

I don't think you can get unemployment if fired for cause (i could be wrong on this though). Regardless, I think it is always better to quit on your own than be fired. Why would you want being fired as part of your permanent HR record?

I was in a similar situation last year (crazy bitch boss), and there was one time I came this close to walking out, but stayed because I did not want to leave without another offer. I eventually found another job. I like PP's idea of telling your boss that things aren't working out and that you are looking to leave. She might be more flexible with letting you have time off for interviews. In any case, I don't think it could make things that much worse than they already are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to a point made many times. Interview NOW, while you have a job and use paid time off to do so. Even if it requires a "lecture" from your boss.

This isn't always that simple. My DH burned through his leave doing interviews. Plus lecture can turn into being fired.

PP here - and, your point? Who cares about burning through your leave. You're currently planning on quitting. And, lecturing can only turn into being fired if you let it.

Yeah but what do you do, when you have no leave left. Taking unpaid leave is a quick way to get a pink slip.

If I am leaving/quitting either way - is it better to get a pink slip of leave on my own? At least with a pink slip I can get unemployment?

If you get fired, you will have a hard time getting unemployment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to a point made many times. Interview NOW, while you have a job and use paid time off to do so. Even if it requires a "lecture" from your boss.

This isn't always that simple. My DH burned through his leave doing interviews. Plus lecture can turn into being fired.

PP here - and, your point? Who cares about burning through your leave. You're currently planning on quitting. And, lecturing can only turn into being fired if you let it.

Yeah but what do you do, when you have no leave left. Taking unpaid leave is a quick way to get a pink slip.

If I am leaving/quitting either way - is it better to get a pink slip of leave on my own? At least with a pink slip I can get unemployment?

I truly sympathize with your situation. It doesn't sound as if you will get a good reference out of this woman regardless, she sounds like she has it out for you, although unfairly so. What about facing the issue directly when you come back from vacation? Could you tell her that you sense that the job is not going well, from either her or your perspective, that perhaps the fit is not right, and that you think it may be best for you to look for something else?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to a point made many times. Interview NOW, while you have a job and use paid time off to do so. Even if it requires a "lecture" from your boss.

This isn't always that simple. My DH burned through his leave doing interviews. Plus lecture can turn into being fired.

So?? Op is thinking of quitting anyway!

Being fired looks bad. It's better to quit than be fired.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to a point made many times. Interview NOW, while you have a job and use paid time off to do so. Even if it requires a "lecture" from your boss.

This isn't always that simple. My DH burned through his leave doing interviews. Plus lecture can turn into being fired.

PP here - and, your point? Who cares about burning through your leave. You're currently planning on quitting. And, lecturing can only turn into being fired if you let it.

Yeah but what do you do, when you have no leave left. Taking unpaid leave is a quick way to get a pink slip.

I get what you all are saying about finding work first. I just have only 1.5 PTOs left and I've been strongly encouraged not to use them any time soon. I guess it doesn't matter if I get fired since I want to leave anyway but figured maybe it would be better to leave voluntarily than get fired?

Also my upcoming 2.5 week trip overseas has also been an issue during phone screens so I figured I need to wait to find work when I get back. But the thought of having to stay at my current job that long just depresses me to no end.

I didn't want to give too much back story so I could get unmuddled feedback but here's background to my story, I am the OP of this thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/370873.page

Things have just gotten worse, obviously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to a point made many times. Interview NOW, while you have a job and use paid time off to do so. Even if it requires a "lecture" from your boss.

This isn't always that simple. My DH burned through his leave doing interviews. Plus lecture can turn into being fired.

PP here - and, your point? Who cares about burning through your leave. You're currently planning on quitting. And, lecturing can only turn into being fired if you let it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to a point made many times. Interview NOW, while you have a job and use paid time off to do so. Even if it requires a "lecture" from your boss.

This isn't always that simple. My DH burned through his leave doing interviews. Plus lecture can turn into being fired.

So?? Op is thinking of quitting anyway!